A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
Parallel translations
- WEB A prudent man sees danger, and hides himself; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
- BSB The prudent see danger and take cover, but the simple keep going and suffer the consequences.
- NKJV A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, But the simple pass on and are punished.
- NASB A prudent person sees evil and hides himself, But the naive proceed, and pay the penalty.
- NLT A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The prudent foresee danger and take cover, while the naive walk on and suffer. It matters because wisdom anticipates and avoids harm.
Overview
Repeated in Proverbs 27:12, this proverb commends foresight — seeing trouble coming and acting to avoid it, unlike the simple who blunder into it. Prudence and discernment protect from needless harm. Wisdom heeds warnings, supremely the warning of judgment and the refuge offered in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Prov 27:12A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.
- Prov 14:16A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.
- Prov 29:1He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
- 1 Th 5:2–6For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
- Heb 11:7By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
- Prov 7:7And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,
- Prov 7:22–23He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
- Isa 26:20–21Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.
- Exod 9:20–21He that feared the word of the LORD among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses:
- Heb 6:18That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
- Prov 9:16–18Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
- Matt 24:15–18When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 22:3 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.